Although it is not known for certain, Erlikilyika was probably born close to his ancestral home of Akeltye (or Okilcha), later known as McKenzie's Waterhole, on the Coglin Creek,[2][3] around 1860[1]–1865,[4] soon after the arrival of the first European explorer, John McDouall Stuart in 1860.

[1] He also worked up and down the line, learning English and Kaytetye (or Kaytej), and was part of the first generation to grow up during a period of great change in the region.

[4] Erlikilyika showed remarkable artistic talent, he made numerous sketches on the trip, and also sculpted items from wood and kaolinite.

[4] Museum anthropologist Jason Gibson notes that he "sculpted and decorated objects of wood and kaolin meerschaum clay".

[2] Archaeologist John Mulvaney showed that Erlikilyika was not acknowledged for the role he played as a contributor to Spencer and Gillen's noted anthropological work, The Native Tribes of Central Australia.

[8] In 1913, accompanied by Telegraph Master and enthusiastic supporter Harry O. Kearnan,[6] Erlikilyika travelled to Adelaide, where his art was exhibited at the Selborne Hotel[1] in Pirie Street.

The reporter includes the lively explanations given by the artist when interviewed, opines that the work surely should be acquired by the national collection and cites Erlikilyika's age as 40[11] (and also mentions that he visited Sydney when he was 15).

[1] Most likely during this visit, Erlikilyika made 24 botanical drawings, annotated with both their Arrernte and scientific names, which were acquired by the South Australian Museum.

[1] There is no record of his date of death, the telegraph station at Charlotte Waters having fallen into disuse and the Central Australia Railway having bypassed the location.